Saturday, August 9, 2008

Les feux pyromélodiques

Question for the day: Why, oh why, did my camera decide to break? Yes, it still takes pictures, but it can't take movies anymore. Which means that I couldn't film the fireworks tonight. They were wonderful -- so much better than last year -- and not just because I got a better spot that was closer to the speakers on the lake. The music was so much fun this year -- Moscow was the guest of honor and the theme was "dance". They started off with traditional Russian folk dances, then switched to contemporary Russian pop, then played the Blue Danube Waltz, the waltz from Amélie, some traditional and modern Irish dances, flamenco, Swan Lake (at which point an enormous swan flew right over the crowd, completely by coincidence), a Hungarian dance that everyone knows of but whose title I forget, Twelve Girls' Band, and some techno and techtonik music. So much fun!

My Bookshelf

Berkowitz, Allan L. and Moskovitz, Patti. Embracing the Covenant: Converts to Judaism Talk About Why & HowBerlin, Adele, Brettler, Marc Zvi and Fishbane, Michael (eds.) The Jewish Study BibleDiamant, Anita. Choosing a Jewish Life: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and FriendsGoldman, Ari. Being JewishJohnson, Paul. A History of the JewsLieber, David and Harlow, Jules (eds.) Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary

En route to my bookshelf:

Cohen, Norman J. The Way into TorahGillman, Neil. The Way into Encountering God in JudaismHoffman, Lawrence A. The Way into Jewish PrayerKula, Irwin and Ochs, Vanessa L. (eds) The Book of Jewish Sacred Practices: Clal's Guide to Everyday & Holiday Rituals & Blessings

Wish list:

Agnon, Shmuel Yosef. Days of Awe: A Treasury of Jewish Wisdom for Reflection, Repentance, and Renewal on the High Holy DaysBarnavi, Eli. A Historical Atlas of the Jewish People: From the Time of the Patriarchs to the PresentDonin, Hayim H. To Pray as a Jew: A Guite to the Prayer Book and the Synagogue ServiceFrank, Daniel. The Jewish Philosophy ReaderGilbert, Sir Martin. The Holocaust: A History of the Jews of Europe During the Second World WarGreenberg, Blu. How to Run a Traditional Jewish HouseholdHammer, Reuven. Entering Jewish Prayer: A Guide to Personal Devotion and the Worship ServiceHilberg, Raul. The Destruction of the European JewsKlein, Isaac. A Guide to Jewish Religious PracticeScheindlin, Raymond P. A Short History of the Jewish People: From Legendary Times to Modern StatehoodTelushkin, Joseph. Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its HistoryTelushkin, Joseph. Jewish Wisdom: Ethical, Spiritual, and Historical Lessons from the Great Works and ThinkersTwersky, Isadore (ed.) A Maimonides ReaderWaskow, Arthur I. Seasons of Our Joy